Sherwood
Rupe Sherwood is much more than that of his relationship as owner of Prunes, Fairplay, Colorado’s famous burro. Although well-known to everyone in Fairplay during his life, he is virtually unknown today, and when written about he is usually portrayed as a poor, starving prospector who never “stuck it rich” except in his relationship with Prunes. Rupe Sherwood was born in Wisconsin in 1849. He was orphaned at the age of twelve, became a jockey at that early age, and was smuggled aboard a wagon train headed for California. Along the way he won many wagers for his boss, other wranglers, and himself in races. When he got to Fairplay he began prospecting for gold. After successfully opening the Sherwood Mine, he turned to professional gambling, cattle ranching, owned a stone quarry, and had his name memorialized on a railroad stop. In later life he returned to prospecting and bought Prunes. Author Sherwood B. Stockwell has done extensive research on Rupe and the times that he lived in to help bring the story of Prune’s master alive and to correct the many inaccuracies about Rupe that have been placed in print.
- ISBN
- 978-1-937851-18-7
- Pages
- 256
- Place
- Colorado
- Listed at
- $21.53
The price shown is the last one on record and is historic, not a current offer.
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About this book
Sherwood is a book by Sherwood B. Stockwell about Rupe Sherwood, the owner of Prunes, the famous burro of Fairplay, Colorado. The catalogue description says Sherwood was much more than his relationship to that burro. It adds that he was well known to everyone in Fairplay during his life but is virtually unknown today.
The description says that when he is written about he is usually portrayed as a poor, starving prospector. The book sets out to give a fuller picture than that. The description then sketches his life: born in Wisconsin in 1849, orphaned at twelve, a jockey at that age, and smuggled aboard a wagon train for California. In Fairplay he prospected, opened the Sherwood Mine, turned to professional gambling and cattle ranching, and later bought Prunes. It says author Sherwood B. Stockwell researched the period to correct many inaccuracies printed about Rupe.
Who it is for
Sherwood is for readers curious about Fairplay, Colorado, and the man behind its famous burro. Anyone who knows Prunes only from the monument or the pack burro race may want to learn about his owner.
The place and the period
The Prunes story is documented. South Park Heritage says Prunes worked in Fairplay's mines from about 1867 and often helped his owner, Rupert Sherwood, carry ore. In 1930, after a severe blizzard left the aging burro unable to walk, the miners chose to end his suffering. Residents buried him on Fairplay's main street under a cement monument studded with ore samples.
Sherwood died in 1931 at age 82, asked to be cremated, and his ashes were buried behind the monument. About 500 people attended his funeral. The Summit Daily adds that at the monument's dedication Sherwood read a poem he had written, Me and Prunes, and that the World Championship Pack Burro Race now ends in front of the memorial.
Source: South Park Heritage on Prunes
Ways to use this book
Planning a day in Fairplay
Check the museum's website for its current season, then walk the town's Front Street. You can see the burro monument that the Colorado Encyclopedia mentions and pick up the story of the town on foot.
Learning about a person few remember
The catalogue says Rupe Sherwood is little known today. If you want more, ask the museum or the county library whether local files or photographs mention him before you assume anything online.
Sharing the story with a young reader
Burros worked in Colorado's mines. Pairing the book with a visit to a mining town museum gives a child something real to look at while an adult reads the local story aloud.
Go deeper
This book is about a man tied to Fairplay, Colorado, and its famous burro, Prunes. These sources cover the town, its mining era and the museum town that preserves South Park's past.
Fairplay in the Colorado Encyclopedia
An overview of one of Colorado's oldest mining and ranching towns. Its photo captions note the Front Street monument honoring the burros of the mines.
South Park City Museum
Run by the South Park Historical Foundation, whose stated mission is to restore, preserve and exhibit historic buildings and artifacts of Park County. A natural stop after reading about Fairplay.
South Park National Heritage Area
Heritage organization for the South Park basin, with maps, trails and a magazine about things to do in the area.
Good to know
Who was Rupe Sherwood?
Is this a biography?
Where is Fairplay?
Where can I buy it?
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